Garden tractor



Oct. 23, 1951 M. SKLOVSKY ET AL 2,572,399

GARDEN TRACTOR Filed May 13, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1

JNVENTOR. Max Sklovsky BY Iro D. Moxon Attorney Oct. 23, 1951 M. SKLOVSKY ET AL GARDEN TRACTOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 13, 1946 INVENTOR. Max Sklovsky Ira D.M0xon 1951 M. SKLOVSKY ET AL 2,572,399

GARDEN TRACTOR Filed May 13, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 N7 PO INVENTOR. Mox Sklovsky Ira D. Muxon WW I - Attorney Patented Oct. 23, 1951 OFFICE GARDEN TRAGTOR Max Skloysky, Molina, and Ira DiMaxon, Highland Park lll.

Application May 13, 1946; ScriaPNo; 669,308

This invention relates to tractors, particularly agricultural tractors, and is particularly concerned with the production of a tractor of the type that is adapted for use on very small farms, such as, for instance, truck farms.

It is one of the objects of the resent invention toprovide a tractor which shall be small in size, light in weight, economical of construction and-easily adaptable 'for'a wide variety of usesand agricultural operations.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a tractor the main body of which is sufficiently elevated from the ground to enable it to clear sm-all plants; and" yet which does not require large or' heavy driving wheels nor the usual types of drop axles for accomplishing the sameresult, In order to accom-plishthis result the rear ground-engaging driving-means, which usually consist of the large wheels, are replaced by crawler tracks; which provide a ground-engaging area sufficientfor the requisite traction effort and which arearranged to be driven from adjacent the upper portion of" the endless loop comprising the track. Inorder to provide an economical and light weight structure and one capable of turning on a' small radius the driving tracks'are'of a length which" is onlya small fraction' of the-total length of the tractor. Also, the driving tracks are p'la'ced sufficiently close together so that when the tractor travels around a curve the differenceinthe arcsof travel of the two tracks is-sufiiciently small to enable the use of a direct drive-to the two-tracks. without themtermediary" of a differential or the like; The spacing between the two tracks of the tractor is madeso smallthat-it is only sufficient to enable straddling'of-a single row of-plants, In order to give the requisite stability to the tractor the front orsteering wheels'thereof are spaced apart a much greaterdistance, namely, a distance of the order of twice the spacing between the crawler tracks;

The front axle which carries the steering Wheels isarranged so'that it can be connected to-the-body 'of-the-tractor in either of two positfOllSi I'n one positi'on it i'sconnectedto the body of the tractor centrally of the front axleand in the alternate position of the front axle it is shifted so that one of the two front wheelsis in line with one of therear treads;

It is a still furtherobj'ect of the present invention to provide an improved-an simple manner of connecting the front' axle to the body of the tractoninsuch amanner that'the front axle and its" associated tie 'rods': may' beeasiIy and 12' Claimar (CL, Mll -9.1)

' quickly shifitectzfrom-one -position to analternate position: with respect? to: the body of: the: tractor: and. without requiring different numbers: oi tractor: parts: for, therdifherent positions.

Itziszastill ffurther object of the presenti-ne' venti'onito provide a; tractor of" the above: mentioned character in which the crawler tra-clrsup porting pulleys: are supported; from? the framezof. thertractonin as very'simple' and economical: man.- ner. This'is accomplished; irrone preferredembodiment of the present invention, by mounting the engine-on: a' BIGVZtBdTFIMFf OIm rearwardly" of flit-3715622170? the drivenwhich pla-tform has, on onposite lateral" sides: thereof; downwardly project;- i'ng' flanges each of. which acts as a" support two longitudinally spaced-'ibottomzpulleysz Ail adiditional: pulley issmounted: at or near' the topr-of each of the-lateral flangesiand constitutes: the. driving pulleyz. Al power: transmission belt is wrapped'aroundi thetset'olf' pulleys oneach side of the tractora Theibelt maybe a V-bel'tt of the side power transmitting type; so that? the: sides of the belt" engage angularly' disposed circular flanges: on the respectivepulleys; as: i usual in the 1 transmission ofrpower'by'means'of V-beIts of the siderzdrive type; The position of 'oneof the-pulleys; preferably: adjustable." to take up slack in. the belt In the pref erred: arrangement the adjust".- ab'le pulley placed at; the front or slack sidei of'tthe. belt;

The;v attainment of. the above and: further "objects ofthepresent invention willbe apparent from thee fol-lowing, specification taken in: 0011. junctionwith the accompanyingdrawingsirforma ing a part thereon Irrthe: drawings? Figure: 1' is: as top: view" cit a tractorembodying: the present invention, with the hood removedand: certainpantsibroken awayr Figure 2 isa: side view of the tractor: of Fig.- ure: 1'; .with-' the. hoodandcertain other parts in section for ill'ustrativeapurposes;

.ll'i'gure 3 is a rear view of the. motor unit: of the. tractor; inpartialsection;

Figure; 4115 aefrontrview of: thetractor;

Fig-urefi-isa fragmentary topxview illustrating the: front wheels in an alternate: position: from: th'atillustrated; in Figure '1 and Eigure fiiissa front view oft'thettractor'witlr the front supporting: wheels intheposition illustrated imlii'gurefi';

Reference may iv now be had't more particularly to the draw-ings wherein.like reference numerals designate like partsthroughout.

The tract-on of the: present invention, indicated The rear power unit comprises a platform 6.,

preferably of sheet metal, to the opposite lateral sides of which are welded or otherwise suitably secured a pair of downwardly extending plates 7-8 which constitute depending flanges at. the opposite lateral sides of the platform. A pair of pulleys 9-H) are rotatably mounted on' each of the plates 1-8 at the bottom thereof. The

pulleys 9 and It] on each plate are in line with one another, and one of the pulleys, preferably the forward one 9', is mounted so as'to permit adjustment thereof in a direction towards and. away from the other pulley. This result is obtained by locating the pulley axle l2 in a horizontal take-up slot I 3 and providing a lever l4 pivoted at I5 to the downwardly extending plate andbearing at its lower end against the pulley axle l2. The position of the upper end of the lever I4 is adjustably fixed by an adjusting screw [8 that threads through a lug l9 fixed to the inner surface of the plate I. Crawler type ground-engagingtraction means 20--2l is provided. Each traction means. is an endless belt wrapped around the pulleys 9 and ID of the plate and around a driving pulley 22. Each belt 26--2l may be ofthe typeth'at is used' industrially in the transmission of power from one pulleyto anotherand. may be of theflat type, or may be of. the V type wherein the engagement between the pulley and the belt is along the inclined side's'of the belt. The pulleys 22 areboth keyed on a drive shaft 23 so that the two pulleys on opposite sides of the power unit are keyed together. The drive shaft 23 extends through and is driven from a speed reducing gear case 24'that is mounted on the platform 6 and is driven by an internal combustion engine 21 which is also mounted on the platform 6 and which is connected to the gear case by a driving belt 28. The gear case 24 houses a variable speed transmission the gear ratio being controlled by a gear shift lever 30 in the usual manner. The engine 21 and gear transmission 24 constitute a power plant mounted on the platform 6. The power plant includes a fuel tank 3! and an air filter 32 both of which are accessible through a removablehood 33, as maybe seen from Figures 2 and 3.

The ground-engaging driving tracks are preferably made as close to one another as possible consistent with a wide range .of use of the tractor. For this purpose it has been found that a distance of nineteen inches from center to center of the belts 26-2! is suitable. This distance is sufficiently large to permit the belts 28-2l to come on opposite sides of young growing plants soithat the tractor can straddle the plants, and yet they are sufficiently close together so as to permit the elimination of a differential between the driving means for the two belts 282 1. This is due to the fact that the difference in length of travel of the two belts in moving around a curve is so small that the slippage which takes place due to the direct driving connection between the two belts is of minor consequence...

During cultivation with the tractor of the present invention the rear traction means 28 can be driven very close to the rows of crops next to those that are being straddled. This is so because the depending flanges '|-8 are effective to keep the overhanging foliage of plants in those rows from becoming entangled with the moving belts. The fact that these flanges are continuous and windowless serves/to keep such overhanging foliage that may be waving in the wind from entering into the paths of the moving belts as the tractor advances.

The tongue 4 preferably consists of a rectangular or square metal tube. The rear of the tube is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the top of the platform 6. A usual type of tractor seat 35 is mounted on the tongue 4 in any desired manner, as by means of a spring strap 27 which is bolted to the tongue 4. The handle of the gear shift leverf38 terminates adjacent to'the seat 35 to be readily accessible to the driver of the tractor. A foot rest 42 which consists of an arched metal bar is welded at its center to the bottom of the tongue 4 and extending transversely of the tractor and down wardly from the center and terminates in foot receiving supports 4343 that are below the bottom of the tongue and in line with the crawler treads or belts 28-2l. As a result a driver sitting on the seat 35 with his feet in the foot rests 4343 may be straddling a row of plants on opposite sides of which the traction belts 28-2| are moving.

A steering column 45 is pivoted about a vertical axis 46 at the front of the tongue. To that effect the steering column has a steering plate 41 welded thereto. The plate is pivoted to swing about the vertical pivot axis 46.

The top of the steering column 45 terminates in handle bars 4848 adjacent the driver in the seat 35. Movement of the handle bars to the right or to the left results in turning of the steering plate 41 about the pivot 46. Tie rods 4950 are pivoted at one end to the steering plate 45 and at the opposite ends are pivoted to cranks 5|-52 at the upper ends of king pins 54 that carry the front steering wheels 55-55 and are themselves journalled in sleeves 56-56 that extend vertically downwardly from and are welded to a front steering frame 58.

The front steering frame extends across the front of the tongue-4 and is pivotally connected thereto to support the tongue. To facilitate mounting of the front steering means 3 and the tongue 4 a plate 60 is welded across the front of the tongue. The plate has an opening therethrough to receive the shank of a bolt 6| which is locked in place in any desired manner, as by a pair of lock nuts 6262 that are threaded on the shank of the bolt and tightened against the plate 68. The shank of the bolt 6| threads through a threaded hole 63 located centrally in the front steering frame 58. The front of the tongue 4 thus rests on the front steering frame 58 through the threads on the shank of the bolt 6|. In order to increase the bearing area be-' tween the shank of the bolt BI and the frame 58 a plate 64 is welded to the rear surface of the frame 58, the threaded hole in the plate 58 continuing on through the plate 64. It is thus apparent that the front steering means 3 is free to swing about a horizontal axis coincident with the center of the bolt 6|. This is provided in order to permit a limited amount of swinging of the front steering means to compensate for amasaa unevenness; in the; ground, and? permits both steering: wheels -:.to.:: remain; in, engagement. with the groimd even ,if; either one-of 'the wheelsris: in a furrow err-if, one. f the'wheelsrisw: passingbver anobstructiomor the-liken A:..pair:-. of stop-pins- 66-6& projec-troutwardlyfrom the plate Bil-above. the steering frame 58 on opposite sideszofi the center ofctheboltiolftolimit the extent; ofswinging of the front steering. frame:

It-zis sometimes desirable to. shiftathezposition of; the front: steeringmeanscso that onerof the front; steering Wheelsf 55=5 5- :is :in.;1ine;.with; one of: the ground:.-engaging: traction; means: Zoe-21;; To facilitate this; the: front; steering, frame 58; is provided, 'witha threadedohole H15, similar to the threaded... hole 63 The tie rod .setsr: 419-50 are disconnected from .the:.steering plate-; the; bolt Gil? is: loosened, removed fromcthestonguer t: and from the hole-63 of thesupportingframe. and threaded through the hole 1!! and then againpassed through the plate 68 of thetongue 4 and locked inplace. The-tie; rods arethenreassembled. For this purposeatheztie; rod v; consists of two rods 15-'l6-- connected by a. threaded nipple 11; Therod. 16: is unthreaded from; a clevis 18 and the rod 15=-.is. threaded into: that clevis.. The rod- 4-9:is. unthread'edfrom-a:.clevis 19' and one end of the;rod, l'6 ris threaded into-theclevis 19. The nippleJT-atthe opposite end-. -.of the-,rod 16- is-then threaded. to connectther-rod- 16-. with the 'rod 49,, as illustrated in'Figures: 5" and 6. When: this is done the location ofthe front steering frame is as illustrated, in Figures Band 6. The arrangement is such thatthe tie' rod' 49: is lengthened by: exactly: the same; amount thatthe tie rod 50' is shortened, sov that in" making; the. change. over no. additional partsare: re.- quired and no parts previouslyusedarevleftzover perhaps to get lost. Thefront axle: adj:11St-,- ment is of considerable; importance. in various agricultural operations involving j use. or. the tractor.

To facilitate theuse ofthegtractorra. draw bar extends across-the: rear of. the power; unit, said draw-bar beingsecuredto.tworlevers 86 -2-5- that are'pivoted. at 8-1; to: plates. 88- that, are welded, to the. bottom of the: platform: .8 and: ex.- tend downwardly; therefrom... inwardly: of; the plates 1- and; 8; Inordertrr hold .the'draw bar 85 either in its loweredposition; illustrated: in

Figure;2, or; in an elevated; alternate position azpair; of pins 90- are" passed through :each of -the levers. '86 and-- into one. or another: of; two holes- 8l-92' in the plates. 88;.

A pairof rear guard plates 93.-9.4 are mount.- ed at the'. innersides of theyplates land 8- at.the rear thereof anda pair of similar; guard plates 96." are similarly mounted adjacent: the top.- of the: plates I -and 8at the forward partof those. plates. The guard plates 93-941 arerearward of the top of the-belts 2(!:2'-I- and theguard plates 95-96 are forward of; the belts'2i0.-:2 .l',-.as may be seen from Figures 3- and l.v These guard plates together with the plate: 88-servertcr guard plantsagainst injury; by, pieces.- of; soil thatmarbe: thrown outwardly of: the belts; asthe 1 belts advance to a position aroundthedrivingypulleys 2-2;.

The: weight; distribution: ofthe; tractor: isz-such that substantially all of. the: weightzof' the; power: unit-is onzthebelts, which constitute. the trace tion means: This,. of course, increases-the.- trac tive-power. of the machine; Therdownward force ofilthe forward end of." thee-tongue i'factingi on the. front; steering Wheelsav when: the seati351 is: not

6, occupied is: very: smalL. the; ease with which the front. steering. means mayfiberattached .to the tongue l: in:itsialternai-ev positions. When'an :occupant sits. on therseatzfliof; the tractor. a certain portion offlthex weightot' theoccupant" is; transmittedrthroug'h: the tongue 4 to, the'front steering, wheels,. which: increases the: downwardi .pressurez of: the tongue; on; the steeringwheels and thus increases the: efiectivee ness' of." the-steering arrangement;-

Thexarrangement of the steering. column-cc such. that the steering 10011111111 does-'rnot interfere with: visibility during-cultivation.

During plowing both. crawler 1 tracks: can travelon the. unploWed-ground; Thistimprovesrtrace tiona-as. compared- .Withhaving .one crawler track in aifurrow. Furthermore; since both crawler tracks are; on, the unplowed ground they are both on; the same level, .as.- distinguished from an arrangement wherein one crawler trackis. :in: a: furrow and therefore below the:- other track'sanel resultingtilting of the tractor; During plowing; one of thetwosteeringrwheelscan be in: a furrow still retainingthe leveling feature of the tractor; This; is due to-thefact that even though: the front steering frameisnot;- level the pivoting, arrangement betweenthat frame. and: the tongue 4 of the tractorat thebolt-(H permitsthetractor. to. remain level. The factthat thetractor. remains level. during plowing is of great imp0r+- tance because asv a-result of: this; arrangementit becomes'unnecessa-ry to change the angle of the plow relationto the-tractor. with changesirr plowing depths. In view-of the-factthat the tractor canremain level from side; to "side/duning plowing it follows that both-tractionwtracks are ineffective contact withthe ground, resultingin a. bettertraction fori-the'sameweight or permitting a lower Weight tractor constructionfor thesame tractiveeifortr In compliance with the requirements-of: the. patent. statutes.- we. have hereshown: and described a: preferred. embodiment. of. our; invention. It is, however, to be understood. thatthei-inven tion is notlimitedto theprecise construction here. shown, the. same being merely illustrative. of the principles of the invention. What we: consider. new and. desire to: secure by Letters Patent. is:

1.. A-. tractor-having a rear unit. comprisingv a platform, power transmitting means thereon, and crawler. type ground-engaging traction means supporting.therplatform and: coupledv to, the, power transmitting: mean-s, atongue of. a Widthsubstantially-yless than that? oft the unitsecured to-and extending forwardofgthe unit, and a pair of front steeringwheelssupporting ;the forward. end. ofithe tongue, the center ofv the: power transmitting means onthe platform bein located: rearwardly of the foremost groundeengaging part. of; the crawler type,- traction means whereby, the. front steering; wheels that support. the: forward end of the, tongue: support substantially? none of::the weight of the power transmitting means...

2., An agricultural tractor having... arear unit comprising a platform; .a..power: transmission. on the platform;..amfcrawlentype-groundeengaging traction? means supporting. the. platform; and coupled: to; theatransmission; a; tongue.- of' a width. substantially less than. that. of'itherplatform securedetoandi extending: forward; of: the platform,

a front: steering: frame including a.-. transverse memberextendingsacross. the front of: the tongue and: secured thereto, a .pairof". steering; wheels securedtozandt suppcrting: the frame, the. center This; greatly-facilitates:

of the power transmitting means on the platform being located rearwardly of the foremost ground-engaging part of the crawler type traction means whereby the front steering wheels that support the forward end of the tongue support substantially none of the weight of the power transmitting means, and a drivers seat only a portion of which is forward of the foremost of the ground-engaging part of the traction means whereby at least a portion of the weight of the driver is carried by the front steering wheels.

3. An agricultural tractor having a rear power unit comprising an elevated platform, a power plant on the platform, and crawler type groundengaging traction means supporting the platform and coupled to the power plant a tongue of a width substantiall less than that of the power unit secured to and extending forward of the power unit, and a front steering frame including a transverse member extending across the front of the tongue and pivoted thereto for freedom of swinging about an axis extending longitudinally of the tongue, and a pair of ground-engaging steering wheels secured to and supporting the frame, the center of the power transmitting means on the platform being located rearwardly ofthe foremost ground-engaging part of the crawler type traction means whereby the front steering wheels that support the forward end of the tongue support substantially none of the weight of the power transmitting means.

4. An agricultural tractor having a body which includes an elevated platform and two pendant lateral sides spaced apart an amount suificient to clear row crop plants with the horizontal platform spaced above the ground to permit vertical clearance of the same plants, each of said pendant sides being a continuous windowless member and said pendant sides together with the platform and together with the ground forming substantially a closed sided tunnel, and groundengaging traction means on the respective pendant sides, the pendant sides each extending both forward and rearward of the ground-engaging means thereon thereby shielding plants from engaging the moving ground-engaging traction means.

5. An agricultural tractor having a body which includes an elevated platform and two pendant sides spaced apart an amount sufiicient to clear row crop plants with the horizontal platform spaced above the ground to permit vertical clearance of the same plants, said pendant sides together with the platform and together with the ground forming substantially a tunnel, crawler type ground-engaging tractions means on the respective pendant sides, driving motor means on the platform, and driving connections between the motor means and the traction means, the center of the driving motor means being located rearwardly of the foremost ground-engaging portions of the traction means whereby the entire weight of the motor means is carried by the traction means.

6. An agricultural tractor having a body which includes an elevated platform and two pendant structures one on each lateral side and spaced apart an amount suflicient to clear row crop plants with the horizontal platform spaced above the ground to permit vertical clearance of the same plants, ground-engaging traction means on the respective pendant structures, driving motor means on the platform, and driving connections between the motor means and the traction means, the center of the driving motor means being cated rearwardly of the foremost ground-engag-' ing portions of the traction means whereby the entire weight of the motor means is carried by the traction means, and a tongue extending forward of the platform, and ground-engaging steering means supporting the forward end of the tongue.

7. An agricultural tractor body having a raised platform and pendant closed sides right and left extending downwardly from the platform close to the ground and spaced apart to permit lateral plant clearance of row crops and vertical clear-' ance under the platform, the platform together with the closed sides forming an inverted U and substantially a, closed sided moving tunnel over the ground, ground-engaging traction units at the bottom of the sides, a power transmitting shaft means on the platform, and coupling means between the shaft means and the traction units.

8. An agricultural tractor body having a raised platform and pendant closed sides right and left extending downwardly from the platform close to the ground and spaced apart to permit lateral plant clearance of row crops and vertical clearance under the platform, the latter together with the closed sides forming an inverted U and substantially a closed sided moving tunnel over the ground, power transmitting pulleys on the platform the sides having mounted thereon traction belt-engaging units, and an endless ground-engaging traction belt surmounting the pulleys and the traction belt-engaging units on the sides.

9. An agricultural tractor body having a raised platform and pendant closedsides right and left extending downwardl from the platform close to the ground and spaced apart to permit lateral plant clearance of row crops and vertical clearance under the platform, the latter together with the closed sides forming an inverted U and sub-' stantially a closed sided moving tunnel over the ground, power transmitting pulleys on the platform the sides having mounted thereon traction belt-engaging units, and'an endless ground-engaging traction belt surmounting the pulleys and the traction belt-engaging units on the sides, and a power plant on top of the platform for driving the pulleys, the center of the power plant being substantially rearward of the foremost groundengaging portion of the traction belt.

10. An agricultural tractor having a body which includes an elevated platform and two closed pendant sides spaced apart an amount sufiicient to clear row crop plants with the platform spaced above the ground an amount sufficient to permit vertical clearance of the same plants, ground-engaging traction means on the respective pendant sides, said pendant sides together with the platform forming an inverted closed sided channel moving over the ground with the space between the platform and the ground between the sides free of obstruction to plants, a power transmission on the platform, an engine driving the transmission, driving connections between the transmission and the traction means, and a drivers seat forward of the transmission.

11. An agricultural tractor having a body which includes an elevated platform and two pendant sides spaced apart an amount sufficient to clear row crop plants with the platform spaced above the ground an amount sufiicient to permit vertical clearance of the same plants, groundengaging traction means on the respective pendant sides, said pendant sides together with the platform forming an inverted channel moving over the ground with the space between the platform and the ground between the sides free of obstructions to plants, a power transmission on the platform, an engine driving the transmission, driving connections between the transmission and the traction means, a drivers seat forward of the transmission, a tongue secured to and extending forward of the platform and a forward steering unit supporting and secured to the tongue.

12. A tractor comprising a frame including a rear platform, power transmitting driving pulleys on opposite lateral sides of the platform and coupled together, said platform having a depending flange at each of the opposite lateral sides thereof, pairs of pulleys journalled on the respective flanges adjacent the bottoms thereof with the pulleys of each pair located one adjacent the front of its flange and one located adjacent the rear of its flange, and separate ground-engaging dIiVillg belts each wrapped around one pair of pulleys and around one of the driving pulleys, each flange comprising a plate member covering substantially all of that portion of the adjacent ground-engaging driving belt that is above the bottom of the plate member and below the platform.

MAX SKLOVSKY. IRA D. MAXON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number Number 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS Y Name Date Leavitt 1 Oct. 6, 1914 Zelle Mar. 2, 1915 Barber Sept. 14, 1915 Salsbury July 23, 1918 Swartz July 22, 1919 Chalmers Aug. 5, 1919 Scanlan Mar. 8, 1921 Nilson Oct. 3, 1922 Ryba Apr. 14, 1925 Scanlan Dec. 15, 1925 Gelly Jan. 5, 1926 I Roberts Dec. 6, 1927 Moore Apr. 10, 1928 Jones Aug. 28, 1928 Worley Sept. 1, 1931 Knapp et a1. Mar. 1, 1932 Hall Oct. 4, 1938 Lindsay Oct. 27, 1942 Brown June 19, 1945 Johnson Dec. 31, 1946 Curtis Mar. 4, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France June 23, 1932 (1st addition to No. 724,844) France Apr. 30, 1934 

